After many wasted hours over the last four years trying to get clean wax I finally watched Louise’s video (Processing Wax) and I’m really chuffed with my 1.3kg block ready for trading-in for foundation.
The juice cartons were used to hold crushed comb and helped keep the mess under control as they tolerate the high temperature in solar kilns and survive being semi-immersed in pans of boiling water. Traces of honey sink to the bottom and dead bees float to the top!
Getting the bees to clean broken comb and cappings also saves a lot of time . . .
I found this light plywood tray supported on 2 frames in an otherwise empty super worked well. Sticky comb could be leant against the block of wood in the middle. Collecting the clean wax and/or replenishing with sticky comb was quick and easy.
For the first time I now have no sticky comb or frames with honey to ‘store’ over winter – and no sticky mess to clear up next spring!
Simon Fitzjohn
September 2024
Meridian Beekeepers’ Association 